Life in prison for fatal 2018 stabbing at the Cottonwood in Woodland
Photo: blood on his hands
WOODLAND – During the summer of 2018, 28-year-old Rohail Sarwar “received a massage in Cottonwood Massage” in Woodland. Afterwards he attacked the masseuse, identified only as “S.X.”, demanding to have sex with her.
That didn’t happen, and Sarwar left the business. The masseuse did not report the incident.
On August 21, 2018, Sarwar returned to the Cottonwood. But before he did, he purchased a knife at a nearby liquor store and waited until the only customer in the Cottonwood had left.
The suspect then entered the parlor and requested a massage from Junying Lu. He then stabbed her fourteen times. Four of those stab wounds were fatal.
Investigators secured video of Sarwar buying the knife, waiting at the Cottonwood entrance, going inside the parlor and then leaving, his hands covered in blood.
Investigators discovered the victim’s blood on clothing inside of Sarwar’s home, as well as the suspect’s fingerprint on the murder weapon.
Sarwar’s trial began on July 15, 2019. The guilty verdict came down on August 1: guilty. And finally, on September 12, the Woodland man was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
